Resources available at the Library

[1]

Birth/Death Records

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The state of Ohio began recording births and deaths in 1867. In Clark County, births and deaths between 1867 and August, 1908 were recorded in ledger books located at the Probate Court. The Library has copies of these ledgers on microfilm. The ledgers covering 1867 to 1887 includes an index that groups names by the first letter of the last name. In other words, you have to scan through all of the A's to locate George Andrews, then go to the page number indicated to see the entry. The ledgers covering 1887 to 1908 are not indexed. However, entries in each year are grouped by the first letter of the last name. So, if you know that George Andrews died between 1887 and 1908, but don't know the precise year, you have to scan each year's "A" entries.

The original ledger books are located at the Clark County Probate Court, 50 E. Columbia St., Springfield, Ohio and are indexed in a card file.

Birth and death records dating from August, 1908 to the present are located at the Community Health Center, 529 East Home Rd., Springfield, Ohio 45503.

Cemetery Inscription

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The Library has listings of inscriptions for over 100 cemeteries in Clark County.

Inscriptions from the following cemeteries are available at the Library.

Dickman Criss-Cross Directories for Clark County are available for 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1971, and 1976 through the present.

Family Histories

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The Library collects published family histories for any family with a connection to Springfield or Clark County. To search for genealogy books related to a particular family, select the keyword search option in the Library's OPAC[7], then type in the surname and the word genealogy.

International Genealogical Index

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The I.G.I. on microfiche is a worldwide index of about 187 million deceased persons. Most of the names come from vital records from the early 1500's to 1875. Other names were submitted by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for temple ordinance work. Information provided includes births, christenings, and marriages. *Please note that the following countries are no longer available in the microfiche edition: Austria, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland and U.S.S.R. & Baltic States. The updated version of the I.G.I. for these countries is available on compact disc at any Family History Center as part of the FamilySearch program. You may also search the I.G.I. online at www.familysearch.org[10].

Marriage Records

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The Library owns microfilm copies of the marriage records from Probate Court for the years 1818 through 1968. Each microfilmed book contains an index (located at either the front or back of the book) of female and male names.

A 4-volume printed index is available for years 1818 - 1865. Both bride and groom names are indexed.

Military Rosters

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Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files

Official Roster of the Soldiers of the American Revolution Buried in Ohio

Official Roster of the Soldiers of the American Revolution Who Lived in the State of Ohio

Roster of Ohio Soldiers in the War of 1812

Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War with Mexico, 1846-1848

Roster of Ohio Soldiers 1861-1866 (arranged by regiment, them company or unit, then alphabetically by surname)

The Roster of Union Soldiers 1861-1865
(3 volumes covering Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia; arranged alphabetically by last name)

Naturalizations

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The Library owns microfilm copies of naturalizations from the Common Pleas Court (1820-1854), the District Court (1852-1884), and the Probate Court (1820-1906). As with the vital records, each microfilmed book contains an index that groups entries by the first letter of the last name. The Library also has a print copy of An Index to Naturalization Records from Clark County, Ohio 1820-1906 and Greene County, Ohio 1831-1954, printed by Wright State University. The original naturalization records are housed in the University's Department of Archives and Special Collections.

Newspapers

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The Main Library has local Springfield newspapers on microfilm dating back to 1860. Copies can be made for 10 cents per copy. (Please note that it takes at least four copies on a microfilm reader/copier to capture one full page of a newspaper.)

The following Springfield/Clark County Newspapers are available for genealogy research at the Clark County Public Library

Property Records

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The Library owns microfilm copies of property deeds from the Recorder's Office for the years 1818 through 1901. The deeds are indexed by grantor and by grantee. The Deed Index is a separate set of microfilm and covers the years 1818 through 1968. To view deeds dated later than 1901, you will still have to visit the Recorder's Office.

The Library also owns microfilm copies of mortgages from the Recorder's Office for the years 1835 through 1851. The mortgages are indexed by mortgagor and by mortgagee. As with the Deed Index, the Mortgage Index is a separate set of microfilm and covers the years 1818 through 1968. To view mortgages date later than 1851, you will still have to visit the Recorder's Office.

Springfield Pamphlet Files

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Pamphlets, newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, and other ephemeral materials about the history of Springfield and Clark County people, places, and things are maintained in pamphlet files located at the Main Library. Ask at the Reference Desk for assistance with these files. Our list of pamphlet file subject headings is available for browsing.

Springfield Biography/History Indexes

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The Clark County Public Library has created a card file index of references to people, places, things, and events in Clark County history from over 100 titles in our local history collection. Materials indexed include local histories, biographies, institutional and business histories, military histories, atlases, and more. This index is located in the Main Library. Ask at the Reference Desk for assistance.

Telephone Books

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The Main Library has Springfield telephone books dating back to 1922. Due to their fragile condition, all phone books prior to 1968 are kept behind the Reference Desk. No photocopying is allowed from these books.

Wills

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The Main Library has copies of wills from the Probate Court on microfilm from 1819 through 1902. As with the vital records, each microfilmed ledger contains an index that groups entries by the first letter of the last name.

Wills from 1818 to 1970 are on microfilm at the Clark County Probate Court, 50 East Columbia, Springfield, Ohio 45502. The original records are stored at the Clark County Historical Society, 117 S. Fountain Ave., Springfield, Ohio 45502. Original records from 1970 to the present are at the Probate Court.